JP7616206B2 - Vehicle allocation system, vehicle allocation management method, and program - Google Patents

Description

This technology relates to a vehicle dispatch system, a vehicle dispatch management method, and a program, and in particular to a vehicle dispatch system, a vehicle dispatch management method, and a program that enable more efficient vehicle dispatch.

A taxi dispatch system is known that refers to taxi operation status, selects a suitable taxi from among multiple taxis, and dispatches the taxi (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Conventionally, dispatch systems search for available taxis close to the location of a user wishing to board a vehicle and dispatch the taxi.

JP 2003-109191 A

However, when there is high demand for taxis due to certain times, locations, weather, etc., users may be unable to find an available taxi, causing inconvenience to them.

This technology was developed in light of these circumstances and enables more efficient vehicle dispatch.

A vehicle dispatch system according to a first aspect of the present technology includes:
A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
When the number of mobile devices whose operating status is that of vacant vehicles within a predetermined range of the acquired current location or departure point is equal to or less than a predetermined number, extracting mobile devices whose operating status is that of occupied vehicles or pick-up vehicles and that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a predetermined time, and transmitting location information and operating status of the extracted one or more mobile devices to the terminal device;
The terminal device
Based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, the mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within the predetermined time are displayed on a display unit.
The vehicle dispatch system according to the second aspect of the present technology includes:
A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device
based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, displaying on a display unit mobile devices whose business status is vacant and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location, and mobile devices whose business status is occupied or picked up and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location;
When transmitting the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices to the terminal device, the vehicle dispatch management device also transmits information regarding the destination of the mobile device for a mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle;
The terminal device also causes the display unit to display information indicating the destination of the moving device of the actual vehicle, the business status of which is the actual vehicle.
The vehicle dispatch system according to the third aspect of the present technology is
A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device
based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, displaying on a display unit mobile devices whose business status is vacant and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location, and mobile devices whose business status is occupied or picked up and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location;
The vehicle dispatch management device acquires a vehicle dispatch request together with information about the current location or the departure location from the terminal device, extracts mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time from among the mobile devices whose business status is either vacant, occupied, or picked up, and transmits a vehicle dispatch request to the extracted mobile devices;
When there is no reply within a certain period of time from the mobile device that has transmitted the dispatch request, the dispatch management device extracts the next mobile device that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a specified period of time, and transmits the dispatch request to the extracted mobile device.
The vehicle dispatch system according to the fourth aspect of the present technology is
A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device
based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, displaying on a display unit mobile devices whose business status is vacant and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location, and mobile devices whose business status is occupied or picked up and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location;
The vehicle dispatch management device acquires a vehicle dispatch request together with information about the current location or the departure location from the terminal device, extracts mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time from among the mobile devices whose business status is either vacant, occupied, or picked up, and transmits a vehicle dispatch request to the extracted mobile devices;
When the mobile device that sent the dispatch request accepts the request and dispatch is confirmed, and the business status of the confirmed mobile device is an actual vehicle, the dispatch management device executes a change process to bring the destination of the confirmed actual vehicle mobile device closer to the current location or departure location of the terminal device.

A vehicle dispatch management method according to a fifth aspect of the present technology includes:
A vehicle dispatch system including a vehicle dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices and a terminal device that requests the vehicle dispatch to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device,
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
When the number of mobile devices whose operating status is that of vacant vehicles within a predetermined range of the acquired current location or departure point is equal to or less than a predetermined number, extracting mobile devices whose operating status is that of occupied vehicles or pick-up vehicles and that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a predetermined time, and transmitting location information and operating status of the extracted one or more mobile devices to the terminal device;
The terminal device,
Based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, the mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within the predetermined time are displayed on a display unit.

The sixth aspect of the program is:
The computer of the vehicle dispatch management device
When the number of mobile devices with an operational status of vacant vehicles located within a predetermined range of the current location or departure point obtained from the terminal device is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the system extracts mobile devices with an operational status of occupied vehicles or pick-up vehicles that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a predetermined time, transmits location information and operational status of the one or more extracted mobile devices to the terminal device, and displays on the display unit of the terminal device the mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or departure point within the predetermined time .

In the first, fifth, and sixth aspects of the present technology, in a vehicle dispatch management device, information on a current location or a departure point is acquired from a terminal device, and when the number of mobile devices with an operating status of vacant vehicles located within a predetermined range of the acquired current location or departure point is equal to or less than a predetermined number, mobile devices with an operating status of occupied vehicles or pick-up vehicles that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a predetermined time are extracted, and the location information and operating status of the extracted one or more mobile devices are transmitted to the terminal device . In the terminal device, the mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or departure point within the predetermined time are displayed on a display unit based on the location information and operating status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device.
In a second aspect of the present technology, in a vehicle dispatch management device, information on a current location or a departure location is acquired from a terminal device, and location information and business statuses of one or more mobile devices are transmitted to the terminal device based on the acquired information on the current location or departure location. In the terminal device, based on the location information and business statuses of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, a mobile device whose business status is an empty vehicle and which is located within a predetermined range from the current location or departure location, and a mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle or a pick-up vehicle and which is located within a predetermined range from the current location or departure location are displayed on a display unit. In the vehicle dispatch management device, when the location information and business statuses of the one or more mobile devices are transmitted to the terminal device, for a mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle, information on the destination of the mobile device is also transmitted, and in the terminal device, information indicating the destination of the mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle is also displayed on the display unit.
In a third aspect of the present technology, in a vehicle dispatch management device, information related to a current location or a departure location is acquired from a terminal device, and location information and business statuses of one or more mobile devices are transmitted to the terminal device based on the acquired information related to the current location or the departure location. In the terminal device, a mobile device whose business status is vacant and located within a predetermined range of the current location or the departure location, and a mobile device whose business status is occupied or picked up and located within a predetermined range of the current location or the departure location are displayed on a display unit based on the location information and business statuses of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device. In the vehicle dispatch management device, a dispatch request is obtained from the terminal device along with information regarding the current location or departure point, and from among the mobile devices whose operating status is either vacant, occupied, or picked up, a mobile device that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a specified time is extracted, and a dispatch request is sent to the extracted mobile device.If there is no reply from the mobile device that sent the dispatch request within a certain period of time, the vehicle dispatch management device extracts the next mobile device that can arrive at the current location or departure point within the specified time, and sends a dispatch request to the extracted mobile device.
In a fourth aspect of the present technology, in a vehicle dispatch management device, information related to a current location or a departure location is acquired from a terminal device, and location information and business statuses of one or more mobile devices are transmitted to the terminal device based on the acquired information related to the current location or the departure location. In the terminal device, a mobile device whose business status is vacant and located within a predetermined range of the current location or the departure location, and a mobile device whose business status is occupied or picked up and located within a predetermined range of the current location or the departure location are displayed on a display unit based on the location information and business statuses of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device. In the vehicle dispatch management device, a dispatch request is obtained from the terminal device along with information regarding the current location or departure point, and from among the mobile devices whose operating status is either vacant, actual, or pick-up, a mobile device that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a specified time is extracted, and a dispatch request is sent to the extracted mobile device.In the vehicle dispatch management device, the mobile device that sent the dispatch request accepts the request and dispatch is confirmed, and if the operating status of the confirmed mobile device is actual, a change process is executed to bring the destination of the mobile device in the confirmed actual vehicle closer to the current location or departure point of the terminal device.

In addition, the program to be executed by a computer can be provided by transmitting it via a transmission medium or by recording it on a recording medium.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a taxi dispatch system according to an embodiment of the present technology; 1 is a flowchart illustrating the overall processing flow of a taxi dispatch system. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle dispatch request process focusing on a user application. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a user application. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating other example screens of the user application. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when suggesting to the user to change the boarding location. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when suggesting to the user to change the drop-off point. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle dispatch request response process focusing on a driver application. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle dispatch request screen of a driver application. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle dispatch process focusing on the vehicle dispatch integrated management device. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an embodiment of a computer to which the present technology is applied.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of an embodiment of the present technology with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted. The description will be given in the following order.
1. Example of the configuration of a taxi dispatch system 2. Overall flow of a taxi dispatch system 3. Dispatch request processing of a user application 4. Dispatch request response processing of a driver application 5. Dispatch processing of a dispatch integrated management device 6. Example of a computer configuration

<1. Example of taxi dispatch system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a taxi dispatch system according to an embodiment to which the present technology is applied.

The taxi dispatch system 1 in Figure 1 is a system that dispatches a taxi as a transportation device to a user based on a request from the user who uses the taxi, and has dispatch management devices 11A to 11C of taxi companies A, B, and C, respectively, and an integrated dispatch management device 12 that is an integrated dispatch management device that manages them.

Company A's vehicle dispatch management device 11A is connected to one or more taxis 21A belonging to Company A via a specified network, and is also connected to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 via a specified network.

Similarly, Company B's vehicle dispatch management device 11B is connected to one or more taxis 21B belonging to Company B via a specified network, and is also connected to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 via a specified network.

Similarly, Company C's vehicle dispatch management device 11C is connected to one or more taxis 21C belonging to Company C via a specified network, and is also connected to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 via a specified network.

In addition, private taxis 21D that do not belong to a specific company are directly connected to the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 via a specific network, without going through the vehicle dispatch management device 11. When there is no particular distinction between taxis 21A to 21C of companies A, B, and C, and private taxi 21D, they will be simply referred to as taxis 21.

Here, the specified network can be composed of a communication network or communication path of any communication standard, such as the Internet, a public telephone line network, a wide area communication network for mobile communication such as so-called 4G lines or 5G lines, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a wireless communication network that communicates in accordance with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, a communication path for short-range wireless communication such as NFC (Near Field Communication), a communication path for infrared communication, a communication network for wired communication in accordance with standards such as HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc.

Company A's taxi 21A has an on-board device 31 and a communication unit 32. Company A's taxi 21A is also equipped with a terminal device 33.

The vehicle-mounted device 31 is equipped with a vehicle dynamics data generation unit 34 that acquires necessary data from a fare meter, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a gyro sensor, a speedometer, etc. (all not shown) and generates vehicle dynamics data representing the dynamics log of the taxi 21A (vehicle).

The vehicle activity data generation unit 34 acquires data such as the status of "occupied vehicle", "vacant vehicle", or "pick-up" and the fee (fare), for example, from the fare meter. The status indicates the business status of the taxi 21. The vehicle activity data generation unit 34 also acquires information such as the current position, moving speed, and moving direction of the taxi 21A, for example, from a GPS receiver, a gyro sensor, a speedometer, etc.

The vehicle status data generation unit 34 then generates information such as a company ID identifying the company to which taxi 21A belongs, a radio ID identifying taxi 21A, a crew ID identifying the driver on duty in taxi 21A, a status time indicating the time the status was generated, latitude and longitude which are the location information of taxi 21A, the driving speed and direction of taxi 21A, the status of "occupied vehicle", "empty vehicle" or "pick-up", and, if the status is "occupied vehicle" or "pick-up", the boarding location and destination of taxi 21, as vehicle status data on a regular or irregular basis, and transmits this information to Company A's vehicle dispatch management device 11A via the communication unit 32.

The communication unit 32 transmits the vehicle status data generated by the vehicle status data generation unit 34 of the vehicle-mounted device 31 to the vehicle dispatch management device 11A of Company A. The communication unit 32 is configured with a network interface that performs network communication via a specified network.

The terminal device 33 is composed of an information processing device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. A driver app 35, which is an application program for the driver, is installed in the terminal device 33. The driver app 35 acquires data related to a dispatch request from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 and displays it on a display, and transmits response data to the dispatch request to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 based on the driver's operation. The driver app 35 communicates directly with the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 via a network such as a wide area communication network for mobile communication. The driver app 35 may also communicate with the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 via the communication unit 32 and the vehicle dispatch management device 11A of Company A.

Taxi 21B of Company B and taxi 21C of Company C are basically the same as taxi 21A of Company A, except that they are different companies, so we will omit their explanation.

Company A's vehicle dispatch management device 11A collects vehicle status data of one or more Company A's taxis 21A and transmits it to the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12, and also relays data regarding dispatch requests transmitted from the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 to Company A's taxis 21A, and transmits it to the specified Company A's taxi 21A.

Company A's vehicle dispatch management device 11A has a vehicle status data management unit 41, an order information management unit 42, and a communication unit 43. Company A's vehicle dispatch management device 11A is configured, for example, as a server device (information processing device) with network connection functionality.

The vehicle status data management unit 41 manages the vehicle status data supplied from each of Company A's taxis 21A. Specifically, the vehicle status data management unit 41 stores the vehicle status data supplied from each of Company A's taxis 21A in an internal memory unit, and displays the vehicle status data of each taxi 21A on a display (not shown). In addition, the vehicle status data management unit 41 transmits the vehicle status data supplied from each taxi 21A to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12.

When an operator who manages the operation of Company A's taxis 21A receives a call requesting dispatch to Company A, the operator can check the current location and status, such as "occupied" or "vacant," of each of Company A's taxis 21A, which are stored in the vehicle activity data management unit 41, and search for and assign a taxi 21A that can respond to the dispatch request.

The order information management unit 42 manages information on advance dispatch requests (dispatch reservations) from customers, etc. For example, when an operator of a taxi 21A of Company A receives a call from a customer for a dispatch reservation, the operator inputs the dispatch reservation information, such as the pick-up location, pick-up time, customer name, and destination, from an operation terminal to the order information management unit 42. The order information management unit 42 stores the dispatch reservation information, and displays the dispatch request a predetermined time before the reservation time. The operator who has confirmed the display of the dispatch request makes a dispatch request to a predetermined taxi 21A based on the vehicle status data stored in the vehicle status data management unit 41. Note that the order information management unit 42 may search for the most suitable taxi 21A from the vehicle status data in the vehicle status data management unit 41 a predetermined time before the reservation time, and make a dispatch request.

The communication unit 43 performs predetermined communications with the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 and each of the taxis 21A of Company A. For example, the communication unit 43 transmits a dispatch request from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 to a predetermined taxi 21A, and transmits vehicle status data periodically acquired from each taxi 21A to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12.

The dispatch management devices 11B and 11C of taxi companies B and C are basically the same as the dispatch management device 11A of company A, except that they are different companies, so their explanation will be omitted. When there is no need to distinguish between the dispatch management devices 11A to 11C of companies A, B, and C, they may simply be referred to as the dispatch management device 11.

The integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 transmits and receives data such as vehicle status data and dispatch requests between the vehicle dispatch management devices 11 of companies A, B, and C. The integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 also communicates via a specified network with an application program (hereinafter referred to as a user application) 61 for making dispatch requests that is installed on a terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a user terminal) 13 of a user who is a taxi user. The integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 is, for example, composed of a server device having a network connection function.

The integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 is a vehicle dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of all taxis 21. The integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 has a vehicle status data management unit 51, a customer data management unit 52, an order information management unit 53, a vehicle dispatch management unit 54, a taxi company communication unit 55, and an app communication unit 56.

The vehicle status data management unit 51 manages the vehicle status data supplied from the dispatch management device 11 of each taxi company and each private taxi 21D. Specifically, the vehicle status data management unit 51 stores the vehicle status data supplied from the dispatch management device 11 of each taxi company and each private taxi 21D in an internal memory unit, and displays the vehicle status data on a display (not shown). The vehicle status data includes information such as the company ID of the taxi 21, the radio ID of the taxi 21, the driver ID, the status time, the position information of the taxi 21, the running speed and direction of travel of the taxi 21, the status, and the boarding point and destination of the taxi 21 when the status is "actual vehicle" or "pick-up". In addition, the vehicle status data management unit 51 records the company ID of the taxi 21, the radio ID of the taxi 21, the driver ID, the boarding point and destination, the fare, etc. of the taxi 21 as past actual vehicle data in the internal memory unit each time a "actual vehicle" status ends.

The customer data management unit 52 generates customer data based on data input by the operator or transmitted from the user application 61, and stores the data in an internal memory unit. For example, the customer data management unit 52 stores information such as the customer's name, the customer's favorite taxi company or the taxi company that the customer prefers to have dispatched preferentially, the frequently used taxi stand, and the average waiting time for pick-up, together with a customer ID, which is identification information for identifying the customer. The customer data may be data input (specified) by the user in the user application 61, or may be data generated by the customer data management unit 52 based on the user's riding history, etc.

The order information management unit 53 manages information on advance dispatch requests (dispatch reservations) from customers, etc. The order information management unit 42 of each dispatch management device 11 manages information on dispatch requests (dispatch reservations) received by each taxi company, while the order information management unit 53 manages information on dispatch requests (dispatch reservations) received by the representative reservation center that oversees each taxi company or by the user application 61. The order information management unit 53 makes a dispatch request to the dispatch management unit 54 a specified time before the reservation time for the dispatch reservation.

The dispatch management unit 54 controls dispatch based on a dispatch request or a dispatch reservation. For example, when a dispatch request is sent from the user application 61, the dispatch management unit 54 extracts a taxi 21 that satisfies the conditions of the dispatch request based on the vehicle status data stored in the vehicle status data management unit 51, and transmits the dispatch request. When a dispatch request is sent from the order information management unit 53, the dispatch management unit 54 extracts a taxi 21 that satisfies the conditions of the dispatch request based on the vehicle status data stored in the vehicle status data management unit 51, and transmits the dispatch request to the driver application 35.

The taxi company communication unit 55 performs predetermined communication with each of the taxi company's dispatch management devices 11. For example, the taxi company communication unit 55 receives vehicle status data periodically transmitted from each taxi 21 and supplies the data to the vehicle status data management unit 51, and transmits a dispatch request from the dispatch management unit 54 to a predetermined taxi 21 via the dispatch management device 11.

In addition, the taxi company communication unit 55 may receive vehicle status data and send a dispatch request from the dispatch management unit 54 to a specified taxi 21 by communicating directly with the taxi 21 of each taxi company without going through the dispatch management device 11 of each taxi company.

The application communication unit 56 performs a predetermined communication with the user application 61. For example, the application communication unit 56 receives a dispatch request from the user application 61 and supplies it to the dispatch management unit 54, and when the dispatch of a predetermined taxi 21 is confirmed, sends a dispatch confirmation notification to the user application 61.

In addition, in order to make it easier to understand, Figure 1 only illustrates a user terminal 13 and user application 61 corresponding to one user, but the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 can communicate as necessary with user applications 61 of multiple user terminals 13.

The user terminal 13 is composed of an information processing device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, and performs predetermined communication with the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12. The user application 61 requests the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 to dispatch a taxi 21 based on the user's operation, and displays a confirmation of dispatch in response to the dispatch request. The user application 61 can also display the current operating status of the taxi 21 on the display by acquiring vehicle status data in the vicinity of the user's current location from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12.

In the taxi dispatch system 1 configured as described above, when a user operates the user application 61 to request the dispatch of a taxi 21, the integrated dispatch management device 12 refers to the vehicle status data in the vehicle status data management unit 51 to search for the most suitable taxi 21 and transmits a dispatch request to the found taxi 21.

Here, when searching for the most suitable taxi 21, the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 can search for taxis 21 including not only taxis 21 whose status at the time of the search is "available," but also taxis 21 whose status is "occupied" or "pick-up."

As a result, users can call a taxi 21 with less waiting time because the number of taxis 21 available to accept dispatch requests increases. In addition, it is possible to reduce situations where users are unable to find an available taxi when there is high demand for taxis due to a specific time period, location, weather, etc.

In addition, for the driver of taxi 21, the time it takes to pick up the next passenger from when the vehicle is currently carrying a passenger can be shortened, and the time and travel required to pick up the next passenger can be reduced.

In other words, the taxi dispatch system 1 enables efficient dispatch.

<2. Overall flow of the taxi dispatch system>
First, the flow of processing of the entire taxi dispatch system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, and then the details of the processing of each of the dispatch integrated management device 12, the taxi 21, and the user terminal 13 will be described.

Figure 2 is a flowchart of the dispatch control processing by the taxi dispatch system 1.

In this process, a situation is assumed in which user A uses user app 61 to board a taxi 21A of company A, and while user A is in taxi 21A, user B uses user app 61 to request dispatch of a taxi 21, and the taxi 21A that user A is in is assigned to him.

In addition to the processing shown in Figure 2, the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 regularly or irregularly acquires vehicle status data of the taxis 21 from each taxi 21, and updates the vehicle status data in the vehicle status data management unit 51. This processing is executed continuously.

First, in step S1, user A inputs the boarding location "X" and destination "Y" into the user app 61 and performs a ride dispatch request operation.

In step S2, user A's user application 61 sends a dispatch request to the dispatch integrated management device 12 along with information on the boarding location "X" and destination "Y".

In step S11, the dispatch management unit 54 of the dispatch integrated management device 12 receives a dispatch request from the user application 61 of user A, and extracts dispatchable taxis 21 by referring to the current vehicle status data managed by the vehicle status data management unit 51. Here, it is assumed that a taxi 21A of company A, which is the closest taxi 21 to boarding location "X" and has a status of "vacant", has been searched for.

In step S12, the dispatch management unit 54 sends a dispatch request to the searched taxi 21A of Company A.

In step S21, the driver app 35 of Company A's taxi 21A acquires data related to the dispatch request (e.g., boarding location "X" and destination "Y") from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 and displays it on the display. Then, when the driver performs an operation to accept the dispatch request, in step S22, the driver app 35 transmits a request acceptance notice to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 to the effect that the dispatch request is accepted.

When the dispatch management unit 54 of the integrated dispatch management device 12 receives a request acceptance notification from taxi 21A in step S13, it determines that taxi 21A is the taxi to be dispatched, and in step S14 sends a dispatch confirmation notification to user A's driver app 35.

In step S3, when the driver app 35 of user A receives a dispatch confirmation notification from the dispatch integrated management device 12, it displays a dispatch confirmation message indicating that the dispatch has been confirmed. Then, when the taxi 21A of company A assigned to user A arrives at the boarding location "X", in step S4, user A gets into the taxi 21A and starts traveling to destination "Y".

In step S31, user B inputs boarding location "Y'" and destination "Z" into user app 61 and performs a ride dispatch request operation. Here, boarding location "Y'" is a location close to user A's destination "Y".

In step S32, user B's user app 61 sends a dispatch request to the dispatch integrated management device 12 along with information on the boarding location "Y'" and the destination "Z".

In step S15, the dispatch management unit 54 of the dispatch integrated management device 12 receives a dispatch request from the user application 61 of user B, and extracts dispatchable taxis 21 by referring to the current vehicle status data managed by the vehicle status data management unit 51. Here, a taxi 21A of company A that is traveling to destination "Y" with user A on board is searched for.

In step S16, the dispatch management unit 54 sends a dispatch request to taxi 21A of Company A in which user A is riding.

In step S23, the driver app 35 of the taxi 21A carrying user A acquires data related to the dispatch request from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 (e.g., boarding location "Y" and destination "Z") and displays it on the display. Then, when the driver performs an operation to accept the dispatch request, in step S24, the driver app 35 transmits a request acceptance notification to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 to the effect that the dispatch request is accepted.

When the dispatch management unit 54 of the dispatch integrated management device 12 receives a dispatch acceptance notification from taxi 21A in step S17, it determines that taxi 21A is the taxi to be dispatched, and in step S18 sends a dispatch confirmation notification to user B's driver app 35.

When user B's driver app 35 receives the vehicle dispatch confirmation notification in step S32, it displays the vehicle dispatch confirmation.

Taxi 21A carrying user A arrives at destination "Y", and in step S5, user A gets off the taxi.

Taxi 21A travels from destination "Y" to user B's boarding location "Y'". Then, in step S33, user B gets into taxi 21A and starts traveling to destination "Z".

In the above process, the period surrounded by the dashed line in Figure 2 indicates the time when user A is in taxi 21A. Taxi 21A, which has picked up user A, can drop off user A and acquire the next passenger, user B, without waiting for the status to become "vacant", allowing for efficient business operations.

<3. User application dispatch request processing>
Next, with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 3, a description will be given of a dispatch request process focusing on the user application 61 of user B among the dispatch control processes of the entire taxi dispatch system 1 shown in Fig. 2. This process is started, for example, when user B starts the user application 61.

When user B launches user app 61, in step S51, user app 61 displays taxis 21 that are near the current location.

Figure 4 shows an example screen of user application 61 displayed on the display of user B's user terminal 13 in step S51.

The screen in Figure 4 includes an area map 81 that displays a map of the area near the current location, a vehicle dispatch request operation section 82 for performing a vehicle dispatch request operation, a boarding location input section 83 for inputting the boarding location, a destination input section 84 for inputting the destination, and a payment setting section 85 for specifying the payment method.

On the area map 81, taxi marks 91A representing taxis 21 with a status of "empty" and taxi marks 91B representing taxis 21 with a status of "occupied" or "pick-up" are displayed in positions according to the current location of the taxi 21. The taxi marks 91A with a status of "empty" and the taxi marks 91B with a status of "occupied" or "pick-up" are displayed in different colors or patterns, and are displayed to distinguish them. In the example of FIG. 4, the taxi mark 91A with a status of "empty" is displayed in white (plain), and the taxi marks 91B with a status of "occupied" or "pick-up" are displayed in gray.

In the example of FIG. 4, the taxi mark 91B with the status of "actual vehicle" and the taxi mark 91B with the status of "pick-up" are displayed in the same color or pattern without distinction, but the taxi mark 91B with the status of "actual vehicle" and the taxi mark 91B with the status of "pick-up" may be displayed in different colors or patterns to make them distinguishable. The method of distinguishing and displaying the taxis 21 is not limited to colors or patterns, and they may be displayed by characters. In addition, by combining these, for example, the taxis 21 may be displayed by color or pattern for each company, and the status may be displayed by characters. The distinction between the company and the status may be reversed. In addition, based on customer data, the taxi company that the customer likes or the taxi company that the customer wants to be dispatched with priority may be highlighted and displayed by color, pattern, character, or the like. In addition, only the taxis 21 of the taxi company that the customer likes or the taxi company that the customer wants to be dispatched with priority may be displayed.

In the following, the taxi mark 91A representing a taxi 21 with a status of "vacant" will be referred to as the vacant taxi mark 91A, and the taxi mark 91B representing a status of "occupied" or "pick-up" will be referred to as the occupied/pick-up taxi mark 91B. When there is no particular distinction between the vacant taxi mark 91A and the occupied/pick-up taxi mark 91B, they will simply be referred to as the taxi mark 91.

On the area map 81, a current location mark 93 indicating the user's current location acquired by the GPS receiver of the user terminal 13 and a boarding location mark 94 are displayed at a position corresponding to the boarding location input by the user to the boarding location input section 83. The user can freely move the boarding location mark 94 to a desired location on the area map 81 by a touch operation, and an address corresponding to the location of the boarding location mark 94 is displayed on the boarding location input section 83.

An operation bar 82A is displayed in the vehicle dispatch request operation section 82, and a vehicle dispatch request can be executed by sliding the operation bar 82A to the right.

The boarding location input section 83 is used to input the boarding location desired by the user. The boarding location input section 83 may be left blank when the app is launched, or the current location acquired by the GPS receiver may be input by default. If the boarding location input section 83 is left blank, the boarding location mark 94 is not displayed.

The destination input section 84 is where the user enters the desired destination.

In the payment setting section 85, the payment method can be specified. For example, the payment method can be selected as cash payment, in which the driver is paid in cash, or card payment, in which the driver is paid using a credit card registered in the user app 61. The payment setting section 85 in Figure 4 shows an example of the display when card payment is specified.

When no specific input is made to the boarding location input unit 83, such as when the application is started, the user application 61 displays on the area map 81 taxi marks 91 of taxis 21 located within a predetermined range according to the scale of the map with respect to the user's current location. It does not matter whether the status of the taxi 21 is "empty," "occupied," or "pick-up."

When a boarding location is input to the boarding location input unit 83, the user application 61 displays on the area map 81 taxi marks 91 of taxis 21 that are located within a predetermined range from the boarding location according to the scale of the map and that can arrive at the boarding location input to the boarding location input unit 83 within a predetermined time. The status of the taxis 21 displayed here may be any of "available," "occupied," or "pick-up."

In specific processing, when a boarding location is input to the boarding location input unit 83, the user application 61 transmits information about the user's boarding location to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12. The vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 transmits position information and status of the taxi 21 that is located within a predetermined range according to the scale of the map with respect to the boarding location and can arrive at the boarding location within a predetermined time based on the information about the boarding location from the user application 61. The user application 61 displays, on the area map 81, a taxi mark 91 of the taxi 21 that is located within a predetermined range according to the scale of the map with respect to the boarding location and can arrive at the boarding location input to the boarding location input unit 83 within a predetermined time based on the position information and status of the taxi 21 transmitted from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12. The predetermined time that is the time limit for arrival is set in advance by the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12.

When the user's current location is entered by default in the boarding location input section 83, a taxi mark 91 of a taxi 21 that can arrive at the current location within a specified time is displayed on the area map 81.

The vacant taxi mark 91A or the actual taxi/pick-up taxi mark 91B displayed on the area map 81 may be set to display only the top N taxis (N>0) with the earliest arrival times, rather than all taxis 21 that can arrive within a specified time. Also, if there are taxis 21 with an "vacant" status, only the vacant taxi mark 91A may be displayed, and the actual taxi/pick-up taxi mark 91B may be displayed only if the number of "vacant" taxis 21 is equal to or less than a specified number. Alternatively, whether or not to display one or both of the vacant taxi mark 91A or the actual taxi/pick-up taxi mark 91B may be controlled depending on the time period or location (area).

Figure 5 shows another example of a screen that displays on the area map 81 taxi marks 91 of taxis 21 that can arrive within a specified time at the boarding location or the current location entered by the user in the boarding location input section 83.

In the example of Figure 5, a destination mark 95 indicating the destination of the taxi 21 and a planned driving route 96 to the destination are displayed for the actual vehicle/pick-up taxi mark 91B of a taxi 21 that can arrive at the current location within a specified time and whose status is "actual vehicle" or "pick-up."

When the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 transmits location information and status of a taxi 21 that can arrive at the boarding location within a predetermined time based on information about the boarding location from the user application 61, for a taxi 21 whose status is "actual vehicle" or "pick-up", it also transmits information about the destination, specifically, the destination and the planned driving route to the destination, to the user application 61. Based on the information about the destination of the taxi 21 transmitted from the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12, for the actual vehicle/pick-up taxi mark 91B, the user application 61 displays a destination mark 95 and a planned driving route 96 to the destination on the area map 81.

In this way, by displaying the destination mark 95, user B can know the drop-off point of user A who is in the actual taxi 21, and, for example, user B can move to user A's drop-off point himself, thereby shortening the waiting time before boarding. The integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 may transmit to the user application 61, as information regarding the destination, in addition to the destination and the planned driving route to the destination, the planned time of arrival at the destination or the time required to reach the destination, and may further display, in addition to the destination mark 95 and the planned driving route 96, the planned time of arrival at the destination or the time required to reach the destination.

In the case where the area map 81 becomes difficult to see when the destination mark 95 and the planned driving route 96 to the destination are displayed for all taxis 21 whose status is "actual vehicle" or "pick-up" on the screen of FIG. 5, it is possible to display them only when the scale of the area map 81 is equal to or lower than a certain magnification (low magnification), or to display only taxis 21 whose destination is within the display range of the area map 81.

When user B inputs a boarding location in the boarding location input section 83 and a destination in the destination input section 84 on the screen of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, in step S52 of FIG. 3, the user application 61 accepts the input of the boarding location and destination, and in step S53, determines whether a ride dispatch request operation has been performed and waits until it is determined that a ride dispatch request operation has been performed.

In the screen of Figure 4, for example, when a boarding location "Y'" is input in the boarding location input section 83 and a destination "Z" is input in the destination input section 84, and user B performs an operation of sliding the operation bar 82A to the right, the user application 61 determines in step S53 that a vehicle dispatch request operation has been performed, and proceeds to the process of step S54.

In step S54, the user application 61 sends a dispatch request to the dispatch integrated management device 12 along with information on the boarding location "Y'" and the destination "Z".

In step S55, the user application 61 waits until a vehicle dispatch confirmation notification is sent from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12, and when the vehicle dispatch confirmation notification is sent, it receives the vehicle dispatch confirmation notification.

In step S56, the user application 61 performs a dispatch confirmation display based on the received dispatch confirmation notification. For example, the user application 61 displays the number identifying the dispatched taxi 21A, the taxi company name, the radio number, the pick-up arrival time, etc. Information such as the number, taxi company name, radio number, and pick-up arrival time is transmitted from the dispatch integrated management device 12 together with the dispatch confirmation notification. The pick-up arrival time is the scheduled arrival time of the dispatched taxi 21A at the boarding location "Y'". In addition, the estimated fare from the boarding location "Y'" to the destination "Z" and the estimated arrival time (estimated travel time) may also be displayed.

In addition, when the dispatched taxi 21A is an actual taxi 21, the area map 81 of user B's user app 61 displays the actual taxi/pick-up taxi mark 91B of the dispatched taxi 21A, a destination mark 95, and a planned driving route 96 to the destination, as shown in the example screen of Figure 5.

The vehicle dispatch request processing by user app 61 is executed as described above.

<Example of change request screen>
As explained with reference to FIG. 2, if the taxi 21 allocated in response to the dispatch request of user B is taxi 21A carrying user A, and if user A's destination "Y" and user B's boarding location "Y'" are somewhat far apart, user B can board the taxi as soon as user A gets off by changing the boarding location from Y' to Y.

Therefore, for example, when the allocation of a taxi 21 to a dispatch request from user B is confirmed and the allocated taxi 21 is a taxi in operation, the user application 61 can suggest to user B whether to change user B's boarding location to the destination of user A who is currently riding in the taxi.

Figure 6 shows an example screen of a user app 61 suggesting to the user to change the boarding location.

The screen in FIG. 6 displays an area map 101. Also displayed on the area map 101 are an actual vehicle/pick-up taxi mark 91B indicating the actual taxi 21 assigned to user B, a destination mark 95 indicating the destination of the taxi 21, and a planned driving route 96 to the destination. This display, like the actual vehicle/pick-up taxi mark 91B, destination mark 95, and planned driving route 96 to the destination described in FIG. 5, is realized by transmitting information on the current location and destination of the actual taxi 21 assigned to user B from the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 to the user application 61.

The area map 101 also displays a boarding location mark 102 indicating the boarding location specified by user B, and a boarding location mark 103 indicating the changed boarding location.

For example, a message 104 is displayed stating, "The current boarding customer's drop-off location is location 1. Would you like to change the boarding location to location 3?" along with a Change button 105 that is operated to make the change and a No Change button 106 that is operated if no change is desired.

When user B wishes to change the boarding location, user application 61 can provide an incentive to user B. For example, the incentive can be a discount voucher that can be used the next time a taxi is used, a coupon for free pick-up, or a free or discount voucher for shops that can be used in the vicinity of the current location or the destination.

By providing incentives for changing the boarding location, users are motivated to change their boarding location, and taxi 21 can reduce the idle time and distance between the previous and next passengers, thereby enabling it to operate more efficiently.

In the example of FIG. 6, the changed boarding location proposed by the user application 61 is a location midway between the drop-off location of user A and the boarding location of user B, but the changed boarding location proposed by the user application 61 may be the same location as the drop-off location of user A. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the empty time or distance between the previous passenger and the next passenger.

The example in Figure 6 is a process of proposing a change of boarding location to user B, who is scheduled to board the currently operating taxi 21, but conversely, it is also possible to propose a change of disembarking location to user A, who is the user of the currently operating taxi 21, to the next boarding location of user B.

Figure 7 shows an example screen in which a suggestion is made to user A of a taxi 21 that he or she is currently using to change the drop-off location to the pick-up location of the next user B.

While Figure 6 is an example of a screen of user B's user app 61, Figure 7 is an example of a screen of user A's user app 61.

The screen in Figure 7 displays an area map 101, and on the area map 101, a vehicle/pick-up taxi mark 91B indicating user A's taxi 21, a destination mark 95 indicating the destination of the taxi 21, and a planned driving route 96 to the destination.

The area map 101 also displays a boarding location mark 102 indicating the boarding location specified by the next passenger, user B, and a disembarking location mark 111 indicating the changed disembarking location. The changed disembarking location is the boarding location mark 103 on the screen of user B's user app 61 shown in Figure 6, but is the disembarking location mark 111 on the screen of user A's user app 61 in Figure 7.

For example, a message 112 is displayed stating, "The next passenger scheduled to board is boarding point 2. Would you like to change the disembarking point to point 3?" along with a change button 113 that is operated to make the change and a no change button 114 that is operated if no change is desired.

The user app 61 can provide an incentive to user A if user A wishes to change the drop-off location.

Even in the process of proposing a change of drop-off location to user A, who is a user of taxi 21 in the vehicle, efficient business operations can be conducted if the change is implemented.

<4. Driver app dispatch request response processing>
Next, with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 8, a description will be given of a dispatch request response process focusing on the driver application 35 among the dispatch control processes of the entire taxi dispatch system 1 shown in Fig. 2. This process is started, for example, when the driver starts the driver application 35 on the terminal device 33.

As a situation in which the dispatch request response process in Figure 8 is executed, assume a situation in which a dispatch request is sent from user B while user A is aboard the taxi, during the dispatch control process of the entire taxi dispatch system 1 shown in Figure 2.

First, in step S71, the driver app 35 determines whether a dispatch request has been received from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12, and waits until it is determined that a dispatch request has been received. When a dispatch request is sent from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 and it is determined in step S71 that a dispatch request has been received, the process proceeds to step S72.

In step S72, the driver app 35 acquires data regarding the dispatch request from the dispatch integrated management device 12 (e.g., boarding location "Y" and destination "Z"), and displays a dispatch request screen based on the acquired data on the display.

Figure 9 shows an example of a dispatch request screen displayed on the display of the terminal device 33 in step S72.

The screen in Fig. 9 displays an area map 121. Also displayed on the area map 121 are a current vehicle/pick-up taxi mark 91B indicating the taxi 21 whose driver is user A, a destination mark 95 indicating the destination of the taxi 21, and a planned driving route 96 to the destination.

The area map 121 also displays a boarding location mark 122 indicating the boarding location specified by user B. Additional information such as user B's planned boarding time and destination may be displayed as information on user B's ride dispatch request.

For example, a message 131 is displayed saying, "Your destination is in 5 minutes. Your next dispatch request can be accepted. Would you like to accept it?" along with an Accept button 132 that is operated if you wish to accept the order, and an Accept no order button 133 that is operated if you do not wish to accept the order.

If the driver wishes to accept the dispatch request, he/she presses the Accept button 132. On the other hand, if the driver does not wish to accept the dispatch request, he/she presses the Not Accept Order button 133. If neither the Accept button 132 nor the Not Accept Order button 133 is operated within a predetermined time period after the driver app 35 displays the dispatch request screen in FIG. 9, the driver app 35 can carry out the same processing as when the Not Accept Order button 133 is pressed. As a result, if there is no operation from the driver within a certain period of time, the dispatch integrated management device 12 can send a dispatch request to the next candidate taxi 21.

When a dispatch request is received, if the taxi 21 has a passenger on board (is in the vehicle), the driver app 35 may simply display a dispatch request screen on the display, and if the taxi 21 does not have a passenger on board (is empty), the driver app 35 may output a voice message such as "A dispatch request has been received" along with the dispatch request screen.

In step S73 of Figure 8, the driver app 35 determines whether a request acceptance operation has been performed.

If the driver presses the order button 132 on the vehicle dispatch request screen in Figure 9, it is determined in step S73 that a request acceptance operation has been performed, and processing proceeds to step S74.

On the other hand, if the driver presses the order not accepted button 133 or if there is no operation by the driver within a certain period of time, it is determined in step S73 that the request acceptance operation was not performed, and processing proceeds to step S76.

In step S74, if it is determined that a request acceptance operation has been performed, the driver app 35 sends a request acceptance notification to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 indicating that the vehicle dispatch request has been accepted.

Then, in step S75, the driver app 35 performs a vehicle dispatch reservation display, which displays information about the accepted next vehicle dispatch request on the display of the terminal device 33. For example, the name of user B, which is the next vehicle dispatch request, the boarding location, the boarding time, the destination, etc. are displayed on the vehicle dispatch reservation display screen.

On the other hand, if the driver presses the order not accepted button 133 or if there is no operation by the driver within a certain period of time, in step S76, the driver app 35 sends a request rejection notification to the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 to reject the vehicle dispatch request.

After step S75 or S76, processing returns to step S71 and the above-described processing is repeated.

<5. Dispatch processing by the integrated dispatch management device>
Next, with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 10, the dispatch process of the taxi dispatch system 1 shown in Fig. 2 will be described with a focus on the dispatch integration management device 12. This process is started, for example, when a program of a server device serving as the dispatch integration management device 12 is started. It is assumed that the collection and recording of vehicle status data in the vehicle status data management unit 51 of the dispatch integration management device 12 is performed separately.

First, in step S101, the dispatch management unit 54 of the dispatch integrated management device 12 determines whether a dispatch request has been received from the user application 61 of the user terminal 13 of a specified user, and waits until it is determined that a dispatch request has been received.

If it is determined in step S101 that a dispatch request has been received, the process proceeds to step S102. The dispatch request sent from the user application 61 includes information such as the boarding location, destination, and payment method entered on the dispatch request screen of FIG. 4, as well as information such as a user ID and name that identify the user.

In step S102, the vehicle dispatch management unit 54 refers to the vehicle status data stored in the vehicle status data management unit 51, and extracts taxis 21 that can arrive at the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made within a predetermined time from among the taxis 21 whose status is either "empty", "actual", or "pick-up". For a taxi 21 whose status is "empty", it is determined whether the taxi 21 can arrive at the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made within a predetermined time based on the travel time from the current location of the taxi 21 to the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made. For a taxi 21 whose status is "actual", it is determined whether the taxi 21 can arrive at the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made within a predetermined time based on the travel time from the destination and its arrival time to the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made. For a taxi 21 whose status is "pick-up", it is determined whether the taxi 21 can arrive at the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made within a predetermined time after the taxi 21 arrives at the destination with the user on board, based on the travel time from the destination and its arrival time to the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made.

In addition, the dispatch management unit 54 may extract dispatchable taxis 21 from among all taxis 21 whose status is "vacant," "occupied," or "pick-up" from the beginning, or, if there are a predetermined number or less of "vacant" taxis 21, extract taxis 21 that can arrive, including "occupied" or "pick-up" taxis 21.

In step S103, the dispatch management unit 54 determines, from among the extracted one or more taxis 21, the taxi 21 that can arrive at the boarding location the earliest as a dispatch candidate, and in step S104, sends a dispatch request to the taxi 21 determined as the dispatch candidate.

In step S105, the dispatch management unit 54 determines whether or not a request acceptance notification has been received from the taxi 21 that sent the dispatch request.

In step S105, if a request acceptance notice is not received within a certain time period (e.g., 15 seconds) from the taxi 21 that sent the dispatch request, or if a request rejection notice is sent, the dispatch management unit 54 determines that there is no request acceptance notice and returns the process to step S103. This determines the next dispatch candidate that can respond to the dispatch request.

On the other hand, if a request acceptance notification is received from the taxi 21 that sent the dispatch request, the dispatch management unit 54 determines in step S105 that a request acceptance notification has been received from the taxi 21 that sent the dispatch request, and proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the dispatch management unit 54 determines the taxi 21 that has sent the request acceptance notification as the taxi 21 to be dispatched, and transmits dispatch reservation information to the determined taxi 21. The dispatch reservation information is, for example, information such as the name of the user B who has requested dispatch, the boarding location, the boarding time, and the destination.

Then, in step S107, the vehicle dispatch management unit 54 sends a vehicle dispatch confirmation notification to the user app 61 of user B who made the vehicle dispatch request.

In step S108, the dispatch management unit 54 determines whether the taxi 21 for which dispatch has been decided is a taxi with a status of "on-site vehicle" or "pick-up."

If it is determined in step S108 that the taxi 21 for which dispatch has been decided is not a taxi with a status of "occupied vehicle" or "pick-up", i.e., if it is determined that the taxi has a status of "vacant vehicle", the process returns to step S101 and waits until the next dispatch request is received.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S108 that the taxi 21 for which dispatch has been decided is a taxi with a status of "actual vehicle" or "pick-up", the process proceeds to step S109, and the dispatch management unit 54 executes the boarding location change process described with reference to FIG. 6, which changes the boarding location of the next boarding user B to be closer to the destination (drop-off location) of the currently boarding user A. Alternatively, the drop-off location change process described with reference to FIG. 7 may be executed, which changes the destination (drop-off location) of the currently boarding user A to be closer to the boarding location of the next boarding user B. The process of step S109 may be omitted when the distance between the destination (drop-off location) of the currently boarding user A and the boarding location of the next boarding user B is short or when the time until the boarding time of user B is short.

After processing step S109, processing returns to step S101 and waits until the next dispatch request is received.

By performing the dispatch process as described above, when searching for the most suitable taxi 21 in response to a dispatch request sent from the user's user app 61, it is possible to determine a taxi 21 that can respond to the dispatch request, including not only taxis 21 whose status at the time of the search is "available," but also taxis 21 whose status is "occupied" or "pick-up."

As a result, the user can call a taxi 21 with less waiting time because the number of taxis 21 available to accept dispatch requests increases. In addition, it is possible to reduce the number of situations where an available taxi cannot be found when there is high demand for taxis due to a particular time period, location, weather, etc., such as a rainy morning. For example, even in a situation where not even one taxi mark 91 is displayed on the area map 81 when the user application 61 is started, the user's dispatch success rate can be increased, and the user's trust in the user application 61 can be increased.

In addition, for the driver of taxi 21, this gives him the opportunity to acquire the next passenger while he is still in the vehicle with a passenger, thereby shortening the time it takes to pick up the next passenger and reducing the amount of travel required to pick up the next passenger.

Therefore, the taxi dispatch system 1 enables efficient dispatch.

In order to extract taxis 21 that can respond to a dispatch request, including taxis 21 whose status is "actual vehicle", the destination of the actual taxi 21 must be known. In the above example, a case where a dispatch request is made using the user application 61 has been described, but the taxi 21 may also pick up a passenger by "driving", which is a method of acquiring passengers while traveling "empty". In such a case, after picking up the passenger, the driver may input the destination of the passenger into the driver application 35. Alternatively, the driver application 35 may input the driver's voice saying "(destination) right?" or the user's voice saying "(destination) please" by voice recognition.

In the above-described embodiment, the integrated vehicle dispatch management device 12 extracted a taxi 21 that can arrive at the boarding location within a specified time based on the boarding location and destination information transmitted from the user application 61 together with the dispatch request.

However, the process of extracting taxis 21 that can arrive at the boarding location within a predetermined time may be executed by the user application 61. When the user application 61 executes the process of extracting taxis 21, all or a part of the vehicle status data stored in the vehicle status data management unit 51 is transmitted from the vehicle dispatch integrated management device 12 to the user application 61, and the user application 61 extracts taxis 21 that can arrive at the boarding location for which a dispatch request has been made within a predetermined time from among the taxis 21 whose status is "empty," "occupied," or "pick-up" based on the received vehicle status data. The part of the vehicle status data transmitted to the user application 61 may be, for example, vehicle status data for taxis 21 that are present within a predetermined range of the boarding location.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example of controlling the dispatch of a taxi as a mobile device has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to mobile devices in a form similar to taxi businesses such as ride sharing, other mobile devices that carry passengers (people), specifically, buses, trains, airplanes, ships, helicopters, etc., mobile devices that carry objects (luggage), trucks, dump trucks, etc. The mobile device may also be an unmanned device such as a drone.

In addition, the above-mentioned embodiment has been described using as examples "occupied vehicle", "vacant vehicle" or "pick-up vehicle" as statuses indicating business conditions, but other similar business conditions such as "outcall", "hire", "payment", "surcharge", "reservation", "highway", "private charter", "tourism", "flat rate", "substitute", "rescue", etc. may also be used. Furthermore, the statuses are not limited to those stipulated by law.

6. Example of computer configuration
The above-mentioned series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. When the series of processes is executed by software, the programs constituting the software are installed in a computer. Here, the computer includes a microcomputer built into dedicated hardware, and a general-purpose personal computer, for example, capable of executing various functions by installing various programs.

Figure 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer when the computer executes each process performed by the integrated dispatch management device 12, the user terminal 13, or the terminal device 33 using a program.

In the computer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 are interconnected by a bus 204.

An input/output interface 205 is further connected to the bus 204. An input unit 206, an output unit 207, a memory unit 208, a communication unit 209, and a drive 210 are connected to the input/output interface 205.

The input unit 206 includes operation buttons, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a touch panel, an input terminal, etc. The output unit 207 includes a display, a speaker, an output terminal, etc. The storage unit 208 includes a hard disk, a RAM disk, a non-volatile memory, etc. The communication unit 209 includes a network interface, etc. The drive 210 drives a removable recording medium 211 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory.

In the computer configured as above, the CPU 201 loads, for example, a program stored in the storage unit 208 into the RAM 203 via the input/output interface 205 and the bus 204, and executes the program, thereby carrying out the above-mentioned series of processes. The RAM 203 also stores data necessary for the CPU 201 to execute various processes, as appropriate.

The program executed by the computer (CPU 201) can be provided, for example, by recording it on a removable recording medium 211 such as a package medium. The program can also be provided via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting.

In a computer, a program can be installed in the storage unit 208 via the input/output interface 205 by inserting the removable recording medium 211 into the drive 210. The program can also be received by the communication unit 209 via a wired or wireless transmission medium and installed in the storage unit 208. Alternatively, the program can be pre-installed in the ROM 202 or storage unit 208.

In this specification, a system refers to a collection of multiple components (devices, modules (parts), etc.), regardless of whether all the components are in the same housing. Thus, multiple devices housed in separate housings and connected via a network, and a single device in which multiple modules are housed in a single housing, are both systems.

In this specification, the steps described in the flowcharts may of course be performed chronologically in the order described, but they do not necessarily have to be processed chronologically and may be executed in parallel or at the required timing, such as when a call is made.

The embodiments of the present technology are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present technology.

For example, a combination of all or part of the above-described embodiments may be adopted.

For example, this technology can be configured as cloud computing, in which a single function is shared and processed collaboratively by multiple devices over a network.

In addition, each step described in the above flowchart can be executed by a single device, or can be shared and executed by multiple devices.

Furthermore, when a single step includes multiple processes, the multiple processes included in that single step can be executed by a single device, or can be shared and executed by multiple devices.

Note that the effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not limiting, and there may be effects other than those described in this specification.

The present technology can have the following configurations.
(1)
A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device
A vehicle dispatch system that displays on a display unit mobile devices whose operating status is vacant and that are located within a predetermined range of the current location or departure point, and mobile devices whose operating status is occupied or picked up and that are located within a predetermined range of the current location or departure point, based on the location information and operating status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device.
(2)
The vehicle dispatch management device further extracts, based on the acquired information about the current location or the departure location, a mobile device whose operating status is a current vehicle or a pick-up vehicle and which can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time;
The vehicle dispatch system according to (1), wherein the terminal device further displays on the display unit the extracted mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within the predetermined time.
(3)
The terminal device further extracts mobile devices whose operating status is a current vehicle or a pick-up vehicle and which can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, and displays on the display unit the extracted mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within the predetermined time.
(4)
The vehicle dispatch system described in (2) above, in which, when the number of mobile devices whose operating status is vacant is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the vehicle dispatch management device extracts mobile devices whose operating status is an occupied vehicle or a pick-up vehicle and which can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time.
(5)
When the vehicle dispatch management device transmits the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices to the terminal device, for a mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle, the vehicle dispatch management device also transmits information about the destination of the mobile device;
The vehicle dispatch system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the terminal device also displays on the display unit information indicating a destination of a moving device whose business status is an actual vehicle.
(6)
the vehicle dispatch management device transmits to the terminal device, as information regarding the destination, a destination and an arrival time at the destination or a required time to reach the destination;
The vehicle dispatch system according to (5), wherein the terminal device displays on the display unit information indicating the destination of a moving device whose business status is an actual vehicle, and the arrival time or the required time.
(7)
The vehicle dispatch management device acquires a vehicle dispatch request from the terminal device together with information regarding the current location or the departure location, extracts mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time from among the mobile devices whose business status is either vacant, occupied, or picked up, and transmits a vehicle dispatch request to the extracted mobile devices. The vehicle dispatch system described in any one of (1), (2), (4) to (6).
(8)
The vehicle dispatch system described in (7), wherein if there is no reply within a certain period of time from the mobile device that sent the dispatch request, the vehicle dispatch management device extracts the next mobile device that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a specified period of time, and sends a dispatch request to the extracted mobile device.
(9)
The vehicle dispatch management device executes a change process to bring the destination of the mobile device in the confirmed actual vehicle closer to the current location or departure location of the terminal device when the mobile device that sent the dispatch request accepts the request and the dispatch is confirmed, and the business status of the confirmed mobile device is an actual vehicle. The vehicle dispatch system described in (7).
(10)
The vehicle dispatch system according to (9), wherein the change process is a process of moving the confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle closer to the current location or a departure location of the terminal device.
(11)
The vehicle dispatch system according to (9), wherein the change process is a process of moving the current location or the departure location of the terminal device closer to a confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle.
(12)
the vehicle dispatch management device transmits to the terminal device information regarding a destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle for which dispatch has been confirmed when the moving device that transmitted the dispatch request accepted the request;
The vehicle dispatch system according to (9), wherein the terminal device displays information regarding the confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle on the display unit.
(13)
the vehicle dispatch management device transmits, to the terminal device, information relating to the destination, including a destination and a planned driving route to the destination;
The vehicle dispatch system according to (12), wherein the terminal device displays on the display unit a confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle and a planned driving route to the destination.
(14)
The vehicle dispatch system described in any one of (1) to (13), wherein the terminal device displays on the display unit a mobile device whose business status is an empty vehicle and a mobile device whose business status is an occupied vehicle or a pick-up vehicle in a distinguishable manner.
(15)
The vehicle dispatch system according to any one of (1) to (14), wherein the terminal device displays, on the display unit, a mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle and a mobile device whose business status is a pick-up vehicle in a distinguishable manner.
(16)
A vehicle dispatch system including a vehicle dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices and a terminal device that requests the vehicle dispatch to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device,
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device,
A vehicle dispatch management method in which, based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, a display unit displays mobile devices whose business status is vacant and which are located within a predetermined range of the current location or departure point, and mobile devices whose business status is occupied or picked up and which are located within a predetermined range of the current location or departure point.
(17)
The computer of the vehicle dispatch management device
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on information regarding a current location or a starting location obtained from the terminal device;
A program for executing a process to display, on the display unit of the terminal device, mobile devices whose operating status is vacant and located within a specified range of the current location or departure point, and mobile devices whose operating status is occupied or picked up and located within a specified range of the current location or departure point.

1 Taxi dispatch system, 11 Dispatch management device, 12 Dispatch integrated management device, 13 Terminal device (user terminal), 21 Taxi, 31 In-vehicle device, 33 Terminal device, 34 Vehicle movement data generation unit, 35 Driver application, 41 Vehicle movement data management unit, 42 Order information management unit, 51 Vehicle movement data management unit, 52 Customer data management unit, 53 Order information management unit, 54 Dispatch management unit, 61 User application, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 206 Input unit, 207 Output unit, 208 Memory unit, 209 Communication unit, 210 Drive

Claims (13)

A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
When the number of mobile devices whose operating status is that of vacant vehicles within a predetermined range of the acquired current location or departure point is equal to or less than a predetermined number, extracting mobile devices whose operating status is that of occupied vehicles or pick-up vehicles and that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a predetermined time, and transmitting location information and operating status of the extracted one or more mobile devices to the terminal device;
The terminal device
a vehicle dispatch system that displays on a display unit mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within the predetermined time based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device. A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device
based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, displaying on a display unit mobile devices whose business status is vacant and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location, and mobile devices whose business status is occupied or picked up and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location;
When transmitting the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices to the terminal device, the vehicle dispatch management device also transmits information regarding the destination of the mobile device for a mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle;
The terminal device also displays on the display unit information indicating the destination of the moving device of the actual vehicle according to the business status.
Delivery system . the vehicle dispatch management device transmits to the terminal device, as information regarding the destination, a destination and an arrival time at the destination or a required time to reach the destination;
The vehicle dispatch system according to claim 2 , wherein the terminal device causes the display unit to display information indicating the destination of a moving device whose business status is an actual vehicle, and the arrival time or the required time. A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device
based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, displaying on a display unit mobile devices whose business status is vacant and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location, and mobile devices whose business status is occupied or picked up and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location;
The vehicle dispatch management device acquires a vehicle dispatch request together with information about the current location or the departure location from the terminal device, extracts mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time from among the mobile devices whose business status is either vacant, occupied, or picked up, and transmits a vehicle dispatch request to the extracted mobile devices;
When there is no reply within a certain period of time from the mobile device that has transmitted the vehicle dispatch request, the vehicle dispatch management device extracts the next mobile device that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a certain period of time, and transmits the vehicle dispatch request to the extracted mobile device.
Delivery system . A vehicle dispatch management device that manages dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices, and a terminal device that requests dispatch of vehicles to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device includes:
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
Transmitting location information and business status of one or more mobile devices to the terminal device based on the acquired information about the current location or the starting location;
The terminal device
based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device, displaying on a display unit mobile devices whose business status is vacant and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location, and mobile devices whose business status is occupied or picked up and which are located within a predetermined range from the current location or the departure location;
The vehicle dispatch management device acquires a vehicle dispatch request together with information about the current location or the departure location from the terminal device, extracts mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within a predetermined time from among the mobile devices whose business status is either vacant, occupied, or picked up, and transmits a vehicle dispatch request to the extracted mobile devices;
When the mobile device that transmitted the dispatch request accepts the request and dispatch is confirmed, and the business status of the confirmed mobile device is an actual vehicle, the dispatch management device executes a change process to bring the destination of the confirmed actual vehicle mobile device closer to the current location or the departure location of the terminal device.
Delivery system . The vehicle dispatch system according to claim 5 , wherein the change process is a process of moving the confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle closer to the current location or the departure location of the terminal device. The vehicle dispatch system according to claim 5 , wherein the change process is a process of moving the current location or the departure location of the terminal device closer to a confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle. the vehicle dispatch management device transmits to the terminal device information regarding a destination of the mobile device in the actual vehicle for which dispatch has been confirmed when the mobile device that transmitted the dispatch request accepted the request;
The vehicle dispatch system according to claim 5 , wherein the terminal device causes the display unit to display information relating to the confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle. the vehicle dispatch management device transmits, to the terminal device, information relating to the destination, including a destination and a planned driving route to the destination;
The vehicle dispatch system according to claim 8 , wherein the terminal device causes the display unit to display a confirmed destination of the moving device in the actual vehicle and a planned travel route to the destination. The vehicle dispatch system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the terminal device displays on the display unit a mobile device whose operating status is an empty vehicle and a mobile device whose operating status is an occupied vehicle or a pick-up vehicle in a distinguished manner. The vehicle dispatch system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the terminal device displays on the display unit a mobile device whose business status is an actual vehicle and a mobile device whose business status is a pick-up vehicle in a distinguished manner. A vehicle dispatch system including a vehicle dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of a plurality of mobile devices and a terminal device that requests the vehicle dispatch to the vehicle dispatch management device,
The vehicle dispatch management device,
Obtaining information about a current location or a departure location from the terminal device;
When the number of mobile devices whose operating status is that of vacant vehicles within a predetermined range of the acquired current location or departure point is equal to or less than a predetermined number, extracting mobile devices whose operating status is that of occupied vehicles or pick-up vehicles and that can arrive at the current location or departure point within a predetermined time, and transmitting location information and operating status of the extracted one or more mobile devices to the terminal device;
The terminal device,
a vehicle dispatch management device that displays on a display unit mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure location within the predetermined time based on the location information and business status of the one or more mobile devices transmitted from the vehicle dispatch management device. The computer of the vehicle dispatch management device
A program for executing a process of extracting mobile devices whose operating status is that of an occupied vehicle or a pick-up vehicle and that can arrive at the current location or the departure point within a predetermined time period when the number of mobile devices whose operating status is that of an unoccupied vehicle and that are located within a predetermined range of the current location or the departure point obtained from a terminal device is equal to or less than a predetermined number, transmitting location information and operating status of one or more extracted mobile devices to the terminal device, and displaying, on a display unit of the terminal device, the mobile devices that can arrive at the current location or the departure point within the predetermined time period .

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